The bicycle market - Germany

1.1 Definition and scope of study

A bicycle is a human powered vehicle made up of two lined-up wheels. This is made possible by the propulsion provided by the rider's legs via two pedals that turn the wheels. The bicycle is one of the world's most widely used forms of transport, thanks to its simplicity and energy efficiency.

Although some people consider it a means of transport, others use it as a leisure activity or a sport. With this in mind, bicycles are divided into different categories offering a wide variety of price ranges. The most popular types of bicycle are as follows:

• Bicycles (city bikes),
• Mountain bikes (MTB),
• Racing bikes,
• Electric bikes.

The global bicycle market was worth 59.33 billion euros in 2021 and is expected to grow at an 8.2% CAGR between 2022 and 2030. The USA represents the largest source of revenue in this market, with 11.9 billion dollars. It is indeed equivalent to 20% of the total market.

Bicycles are part and parcel of popular culture in some parts of the world. This is the case, for example, in northern European countries, where riding a bike is by far the main means of transport. In the Netherlands, Denmark, and Belgium, cycling is considered a national sport, and this is also mirrored in the daily use of bicycles in cities.

Germany, too, is a bicycle-loving country with a fast-growing market. The size of the bicycle market (including bicycles, as well as spare parts and accessories) in 2020 was twice the size of the market in 2016. In 2020, the market was worth 6.9 billion euros. Revenues from bicycle sales alone were worth 3.1 billion euros in 2021. In the same year, of the 4.7 million bicycles sold, almost 2 million were e-bikes, highlighting the market's main trend. In addition to this, environmental issues and public progressive awareness about those topics seem to be granting a bright future to this market.